Frame for automobile curtain windows and the like



Aug- 1-2, 1924. 1,504,954 I J. c. KAMP 4 FRAME FOR AUTOMOBILE CURTAIN WINDOWS AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 5, i921 Patented Aug. 12, 1924s um'rso srA'r-E s JOHN C. KAMP, OF SAUGERTIES, NEW YORK.

FRAIVIE FOR AUTOMOBILE CURTAIN WINDOWS AND THE LIKE.

Application filed December 5, 3.921. Serial No. 519,832.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatl, JOHN C. K-AMP, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sangerties, in the county of Ulster and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Frames for Automobile Curtain Windows and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a frame which is more particularly designed for mounting the glass panes in the windows of automobile curtains, although the same may also be used elsewhere, if desired.

In frames of this character as heretofore constructed, the same are usually of definite size which required a dealer in such frames to keep in stock a large variety of sizes in order to meet the demands of the trade, which involves not only a-considerable investment on the part of the dealer or menu facturer, but also takes up considerable room for storing the stock, and also requires a large-number of different sizes of tools for making the same with the attendant cost and upkee i It is the object of this invention to provide a frame for an automobile curtain window or the like in which like corner pieces may be used for all of the sizes of windows and admit bars of varying length to be used in connection with these corner pieces, which bars may be readily cut from long bars which may be kept in stock and thus permit a dealer or manufacturer to manufacture any size of window frame without keeping an unduly large amount of stock on hand.

A further object of this invention is to provide a window frame of this character which can be manufactured at low cost, which will hold the glass pane securely in place, and which will present a neat and finished appearance when completed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a window em-- bodying a suitable form of my invention Figures 2 and 3 are horizontal sections, on an enlarged scale, taken on the correspondingly-numbered lines in Fig. 1. Figure 4 is a perspective view of the main parts of my improved window frame detached from each other.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. a i

represents the curtain or wall of an automobile canopy which is usually constructcorner pieces.

ed of woven'faloric, or similar material, and 11 is the glass pane which is adapted to'be supported in the windowopening formed in this curtain by my improved window frame. If desired, this pane may be made of other transparent material.

In its general organization, this window frame comprises two main sections one of which is adapted to be engaged with one side of the curtain around the edge of this window opening and the adjacent edge portion of the glass pane, while the other is adapt ed to engage with the opposite side of the curtain around the edge portion of this window opening and the adjacent side of the usual glass pane. For convenience in following the description, one of these frame sections will be referred to as the inner or rear section, which for the present will vbe regarded as being arranged on the inner side of the curtain and window sections, while the other will be regarded as the outer or front section and assumed to be on the outer side of the curtain and glass.

The front or outer section of'the window frame comprises a plurality of corner pieces, which in the present instance are four in number for the purpose of producing a rectangularwindow frame, and a plurality of bars each of which connects two adjacent- Each of the corner pieces is generally of curved form in the direction of its length and each of the bars is of straight form in the direction of its length.

Each of the bars preferably consists of an inner, flat flange 12 which is adapted to en gage with the front side of one of the edge portions of the glass panes 11, and an outer rim 13 which is curved so as to be of channel-shaped form in cross section and engages its concave side with the front side of the curtain 10.

Each of the corner sections is provided with an inner flange having a central part 14: which engages with the adjacent front side of a corner of the glass pane and laterally oflset end parts 15 which engage with the adjacent end portions of the inner flanges 12 of two adjacent bars, and an outer rim which is curved in cross section, and which has a central part 16 engaging its concave side with the front side of the curtain 10 and offset end portions 17 which engage with the end portions of the curved rims of the adjacent bars. I I

Each of the bars of the rear or inner frame section comprises an inner flat flange 18 bearing against the rear side of a marginal part of the straight edge portionbf the glass pane 11, and an outer rim 19 which is curved in cross section, so as to form an inwardly-dished channel and engages at its extreme outer edge with the opposite side of the curtain 10, so as to grip the latter between the extreme outer edges of the inner and outer corresponding frame bars. Each of the corner piecesof the rear frame section comprises an inner flange having a flat central part 20 which is adapted to bear against the corner portion of the glass pane on the rear side thereof, and laterally offset end parts 21 which are adapted to engage with the outer sides of the inner flanges 18 of two adjacent rear bars, and an outer rim which iscurved in cross section and which has a central part 22 engaging with the opposite side of the curtain at one of the corners of the opening therein, and laterally offset end portions 23 which engage with the outer sides of the corresponding ends of thecurved rims of two adjacent rear frame bars.

'Means are provided for clamping the edge of the fabric of the curtain against the concave inner sides of the rims of the bars and corner pieces of the front frame section, and also connecting the bars and corner pieces of the rear frame section with the front frame section, so that the glass and curtain are clamped between the frame sec-- tions, which means in the preferred construction are as follows:.

Arranged in the spaces between the rims of the frame bars of the rear and front frame 'sectionsand terminating at their opposite ends within the corresponding ends at the corner pieces, are a plurality of 'cla mplng bars each of which is preferably constructed in the form of a channel which bears with its legs or flanges 24 against the curtain opposite to where the same is en gaged by the flanges ofthe front frame section, as shown in Fig. 2. g This clamping bar is held in this position by means of a plurality of screws each of which passes with its shank 25 transversely through the web 26 of a clamping bar, and in some instances passes only through the rim of a bar of the front frame section and bears with its head 27 against the outer side of this rim, as shown in Fig. 2, while in other cases the shank 28 of eachof these bolts passes through the web 26 of the clamping bar and through the corresponding overlapping portions 13 and'17 of a bar and a corner piece, and bears with its head 29 against the outer side of the rim of the respective corner piece, but in all instances a clamping nut 30 on the inner part of the coupling bolt bears against the inner side of the clamping bar for the purpose of securely clamping the curtain fabric 10 against the inner surface of the respective rim portion of the front frame section.

The same bolts which serve to connect the clamping bar with the front frame section are also utilized for connecting the bars and corner pieces of the rear frame section with the front frame section and clamping bar. This is accomplished in the case of the frame bars by providing auxiliary screw nuts 31 which pass through openings in the rims of the rear frame bars and engage their inner ends with the threaded shanks 25 of the respective bolts while their outer ends are provided with enlargements or heads 32 which bear against the outer sides of the rims 19, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In the ease of the bolts which connect the corner pieces of the front frame section with the adjacent frame bars and with the respec tive clamping bars, screw nuts 33 are provided each of which passes through corresponding openings in one of the offset ends of the rim 22 of the corner piece and the adjacent rim of a rear frame bar and engages its inner end with the shank 28 of the respective coupling bolt, while its outer end is provided with an enlargement or head 34 which bears against the outer side of the respective offset end portion of the adjacent rear corner piece, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The heads 27 and 29 of these cou pling bolts and the heads 32 and 34 of the auxiliary screw nuts thereof are preferably countersunk in the rims of the frame members with which they engage, so that these heads and nuts are substantially flush with the outer surface of these frame members. The heads of these bolts and auxiliary screw nuts are also provided with the usual nicks or slots 35, 36, respectively, so that the same may be turned by means of an ordinary screw driver for tightening or loosening the same when assembling the frame or dismembering the same when making repairs.

By thus utilizing the same bolts for clamping the edge portion of the window opening in the curtain against one of the frame sections and for obtaining a connection with the other frame section, a very simple, strong and durable construction is produced which permits one of the flllllll' sections to be permanently attached to the window curtain and necessitates the re moval of only the other fran'ie section when a renewal of the glass pane is necessary by reason of breakage.

The several frame bars and corner pieces, as well as the clamping bars are preferably constructed of sheet metal in any suitable and well known manner which permits the same to be manufactured at low cost.

In marketing this window frame for automobile curtains and the like, it is only neclltl lift! essary tomanufacture one size of corner to meet the demands of the trade for all sizes of windows. So far asthe frame bars are concerned, the dealer can keep. in stock long lengths of bars of this character and cut the same into such shorter lengths as may be required to meet the demands for a particular size of window frame. lit will therefore be obvious that by keeping on hand a moderate supply of corner pieces and long stock bars suitable for cutting up into short lengths of frame bars, a dealer is always in a position to manufacture or provide the necessary material for making window frames of various sizes or dimensions without keeping on hand an undue amount of material which would involve a correspondingly large investment, thereby enabling these frames to be furnished at much lower cost than has been possible heretofore in the case where the dealer was obliged to keep on hand a variety of complete frames of different sizes.

Furthermore, this frame is very simple in construction and capable of being installed by persons comparatively inexperienced in mechanics, and when finished, this frame presents a very neat and attractive appearance which compares favorably with the frames which have heretofore been marketed in their complete form.

Moreover, the clamping bars permit of holding the fabric of the curtain independently of the pressure which is exerted for holding the glass in the frame. This clamping bar has the further advantage that it holds the fabric uniformly along both edges or flanges of this bar and thereby obtaining a much firmer grip upon the fabric throughout the length of its edge portion, which will avoid tearing or stretching of the fabric as would be likely to occur if the connection between the frame and the fabric were made at intervals as has been done in prior structures by means of tacks, screws or similar fastening devices.

Although in the fore oing description reference is made to the front and rear frame sections as indicating that one is used on the outer side of the curtain and the other on the inner side thereof, it is to be understood that these terms are merely used in the present instance for convenience, and that either of these frame sections may be used on the outer or the inner side of the curtain as best suits the particular purpose where this frame is to be used.

In addition to serving as a means for clamping the fabric of the curtain against the frame, the clamping bar by reason of its U-shaped construction, also materially stiffens the frame and increases its rigidity, so as to prevent the glass which is mounted in the frame from warping or breaking.

l claim as my invention:

1. A frame for an automobile curtain window and the like, comprising a frame section adapted to extend around the win dow opening of the curtain on one side of the same and the pane of the window, said frame having an inner flat flange adapted to engage the pane and an outer rim which is curved in cross section and engages its concave side with said curtain, another frame section having an inner fiat flange engaging with the other side of said pane and a rim flange which is curved in cross section and engages with the opposite side of said ourtain, a clamping bar engaging with the curtain opposite to the first-mentioned frame section, clamping bolts passing through the rims of the frame sections, the curtain and the clamping bar and bearing with their heads against the outer side of said first mentioned frame section, inner screw nuts arranged on said bolts and engaging with said clamping bar and outer screw nuts arranged on said bolts and bearing against the outer side of the other frame section.

2. A frame for an automobile curtain window and the like, comprising frame members adapted to engage with the opposite sides of the fabric and the pane, and clamping means constructed to connect said frame members and to independently clamp said fabric against only one of said frame members, said clamping means comprising a clamping bar engaging with said fabric opposite to where the same is engaged by one of said frame members, a bolt having its shank passing through said fabric, frame members and clamping bar and provided with a head engaging with the outer side of one of said frame members, an inner screw nut arranged on the shank of said bolt and bearing against said clamping bar, and an auxiliary clamping nut arranged on said shank and bearing against the outer side of the other frame member.

3. A frame for an automobile curtain window and the like, comprising frame members adapted to engage with opposite sides of the fabric and pane, a clamping member arranged between said frame members and adapted to engage the fabric opposite to one of said frame members, and unitary means having parts for connecting said clamping member with the respective frame member and parts for connecting the frame members with each other.

4. A frame for an automobile curtain window and the like, comprising a frame member adapted to extend around the window opening of the curtain on one side of the same and the pane of the window, said frame member having an inner fiat flange adapted to engage the pane and an outer rim which is curved incross section and adapted to engage its concave side with said curtain,

l f) O another frame member having an. inner flat flange adapted to engage with the other side of said pane and a rim flange which is curved in cross section and adapted to engage with the opposite side of said curtain, a U-shaped clamping bar arranged between said frame members and adapted to engage its flanges with a part of vsaid curtain bearing against a rim flange, clamping bolts assin throu h the rim flan es of said P e g a frame members, the curtain and the clamping bar and bearing with their heads a ainst the outer sides of said first-mentioned ranie member, inner screw nuts arranged on said bolts and engaging with said clamping bar, and outer screw nuts arranged on said bolts and bearing against the outer side of the other frame member.

JOHN C. KAMP. 

